Terowie Railway Station

Step back in time at the historic Terowie Railway Station, once a vital hub on South   Australia’s railway network. Opened in 1880, Terowie quickly became an important    junction and transshipment point, connecting lines from Adelaide, Peterborough, and beyond. For over a century, this bustling platform carried freight, passengers, and stories that shaped the region.

But Terowie’s railway is remembered most for a moment in world history. On 20 March 1942, during a brief stopover, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur stood on this very platform and declared his famous words: “I shall return.” His vow to liberate the Philippines became one of the defining statements of World War II, and today a plaque commemorates the occasion.

Though the station closed in the late 1980s, its platform, buildings, and spirit remain beautifully preserved thanks to the tireless efforts of local volunteers. A visit to Terowie Railway Station is not just a glimpse into railway heritage, it’s a chance to stand where history was made.